by Maggie Downs posted in Life

I?ve never had a problem with purging my closet and giving clothes away.
Then came the maternity clothes.
I didn?t buy a lot of maternity garb, but the pieces I had were versatile ? a soft yellow tee; an array of maxi skirts; a mottled black, white and gray dress; ruched sweaters; a lacy black sheath ? I wore them throughout most of my pregnancy and for a few months afterward. So when I think back on my happy pregnancy and the first few months of my son?s life, those clothes are with me, my memories threaded into the fabric.

 
At first I didn?t pass along the clothes because they?re still in great shape ? perfect for another pregnancy. They hung with all my other clothes, mixed in with cocktail dresses and business suits, denim dresses and some weird romper I?ve never worn. After a year passed, I moved the maternity clothes to one side of the closet. Best to have everything together, I rationalized.
I ended up nursing for such a long time that I added a substantial collection breastfeeding-friendly pieces to my wardrobe, which squeezed the maternity clothes out. I carefully folded each one and stacked them on a shelf ? the high shelf that?s hard to reach, the one where the Christmas presents are safely hidden. A fine dust settled.
The stack has been there for almost three years, and lately I become increasingly emotional whenever I see the clothes. While I?ve been reluctant to get rid of them, it?s time for me to be realistic.
We?r...